Gender Equality and Electoral Violence in Africa: Unlocking the Peacemaking Potential of Women

Author/Editor:

Rasmané Ouedraogo ; Idrissa Ouedraogo

Publication Date:

August 16, 2019

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

We examine the impact of gender equality on electoral violence in Africa using micro-level data from the sixth round of Afrobarometer surveys. The sample covers 30 countries. We find that gender equality is associated with lower electoral violence. Quantitatively, our estimates show that an increase in female-to-male labor force participation ratio by 1 percentage point is correlated with a reduction of the probability of electoral violence across the continent by around 4.2 percentage points. Our results are robust to alternative ways to measure electoral violence and gender equality, as well as to alternative specifications. The findings of this paper support the long-standing view that women empowerment contributes to the reduction of violence and underscore the urgency of addressing gender inequality in Africa.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2019/174

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

August 16, 2019

ISBN/ISSN:

9781513510545/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2019174

Pages:

39

Please address any questions about this title to publications@imf.org